Chapter XV.—John is
expelled from his Church by a Synod held at Chalcedon on account of his
Dispraise of Women.

When Epiphanius was gone, John
was informed by some person that the Empress Eudoxia had stimulated
Epiphanius against him. And being of a fiery temperament, and of a
ready utterance, he soon after pronounced a public invective against
women in general. The people readily took this as uttered indirectly
against the empress and so the speech was laid hold of by evil-disposed
persons, and reported to those in authority. At length on being
informed of it the empress immediately complained to her husband,
telling him that the insult offered to herself was equally an insult
against him. The emperor therefore authorized Theophilus to convoke a
Synod without delay against John; Severian also co-operated in
promoting this, for he still retained his grudge against Chrysostom.
Not long time accordingly intervened before Theophilus arrived, having
induced several bishops from different cities to accompany him; these
however had been summoned by the emperor’s orders also. Many of
the bishops in Asia John had deposed when he went to Ephesus and
ordained Heraclides. Accordingly they all by previous agreement
assembled at Chalcedon in Bithynia. Cyrinus was at that time bishop of
Chalcedon, an Egyptian by birth, who said many things to the bishops in
disparagement of John, denouncing him as ‘the impious,’
‘the haughty,’ ‘the inexorable.’ They indeed
were very much satisfied at these denunciations. But Maruthas bishop of
Mesopotamia having involuntarily trod on Cyrinus’ foot, he was
severely hurt by it and was unable to embark with the rest for
Constantinople, but remained behind at Chalcedon. The rest crossed
over. Now Theophilus had so openly avowed his hostility to John, that
none of the clergy would go forth to meet him, or pay him the least
honor; but some Alexandrian sailors happening to be on the
spot—for at that time the grain transporting vessels were
there—greeted him with joyful acclamations. He excused himself
from entering the church, and 149took
up his abode at one of the imperial mansions called ‘The
Placidian.’ Then on this account a torrent of accusations began
to be poured forth against John; for no mention was now made of Origen,
but all were intent on urging a variety of criminations, many of which
were ridiculous. Preliminary matters being thus settled, the bishops
were convened in one of the suburbs of Chalcedon, a place called
‘The Oak,’874874 Hence this is called the Synod at ‘the
Oak’ (Synodus ad Quercum). See Hefele, History of the
Church Councils, Vol. II. p. 430.
and immediately cited John to answer the charges which were brought
against him. He also summoned Serapion the deacon; Tigris the eunuch
presbyter, and Paul the reader, were likewise summoned to appear there
with him, for these men were included in the impeachments, as
participators in his guilt. And since John taking exception to those
who had cited him, on the ground of their being his enemies, refused to
attend,875875 For a similar action of Athanasius based on the same
reason, see I. 31.
and demanded a general council, without delay they repeated their
citation four times in succession; and as he persisted in his refusal
to meet them as his judges, always giving the same answer, they
condemned him, and deposed him without assigning any other cause for
his deposition but that he refused to obey the summons. This decision
on being announced towards evening, incited the people to a most
alarming sedition; insomuch that they kept watch all night, and would
by no means suffer him to be removed from the church, but cried out
that his cause ought to be determined in a larger assembly. A decree of
the emperor, however, commanded that he should be immediately expelled,
and sent into exile; which as soon as John was apprised of, he
voluntarily surrendered himself about noon unknown to the populace, on
the third day after his condemnation: for he dreaded any
insurrectionary movement on his account, and was accordingly led
away.

874 Hence this is called the Synod at ‘the
Oak’ (Synodus ad Quercum). See Hefele, History of the
Church Councils, Vol. II. p. 430.

875 For a similar action of Athanasius based on the same
reason, see I. 31.